22A — May 24 - June 13, 2019 — Industrial / Distribution Centers — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
I ndustrial R eal E state & D istribution C enters By Barton Foreman, P.E., Providence Engineering Why you should partner with a qualified Structural Prime for your distribution center design A s with any building type, the design and construction of a dis-
Unlike most other building types, however, distribution centers require the struc- ture to take a much more prominent role in the overall building design. Distribution centers are large, highly- functional buildings, with a lot of wall, a lot of floor and a lot of structural design leading the way. At Providence Engineer- ing, we have been designing distribution centers for more than 25 years. We work across the United States and Canada, with Owners, Developers, Architects, Engineers and Contractors. With the design of millions of s/f behind us,
Our staff includes voting members on the American Concrete Institute (ACI) com- mittees that develop the na- tionwide standards for floor slabs, including Construc- tion of Floor Slabs, Design of Slabs-on-Ground and Shrink- age-Compensating Concrete. Tilt-Wall The Providence team also has years of experience in tilt- wall design and an in-house engineer who is a member of the ACI Tilt-Up Concrete Con- struction Committee. These load-bearing exterior wall panels provide the perimeter envelope and structural sup- port for many distribution centers. They have been the standard for many decades. However, we are also seeing a change in tilt-wall design and construction. Due to changing energy code, Concrete Insu- lated Sandwich Panels have grown in popularity in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. These tilt-wall sand- wich panels provide a good solution in some applications, but they are not the right solution for all projects. Provi- dence’s depth of tilt-wall expe- rience enables us to help our clients make the right decision regarding tilt-wall options… and then follow-up our recom- mendation with the structural or complete building design service as appropriate. Structural Steel Our engineers understand how to design and build a distribution center that will remain competitive in the marketplace. For build-to- suit clients, we design our structural steel column grid and column spacing to ac- commodate their particular storage-racking requirements. For clients developing specula- tive warehouses, we design a structural steel column grid and column spacing that will accommodate a large variety of potential tenants and racking systems. We also ensure that our building height accounts for the clear height require- ments of today’s modern rack- ing systems. One of our in-house engi- neers is a member of multiple American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) commit- tees, including Chair of the Design Technical Committee. With our in-house expertise, you can rest assured that our structural steel design will allow your distribution center continued on page 24A
we’ve learned a lot about how to design, build and deliver a distribution center that ex- ceeds expectations. Floor Slabs Whether you are developing a speculative or a build-to-suit distribution center, a flat, level and durable floor slab is an in- tegral part of your project. Au- tomated racking and picking equipment is becoming more common, building heights are increasing and greater client expectations are all contribut- ing to the demand for better floor slabs. The Providence team has re- cently designed several slabs with extended joint spacing
or even joint free slabs. Slabs with these qualities used to be reserved for the highest-end or most specialized build-to- suit projects. However, these high-end floor slabs are now becoming more common for both speculative and build-to- suit warehouses. The team at Providence can help determine the appropri- ate slab for your project. We can guide you through the details of floor slab design, as well as through the vari- ous construction and market forces that will influence your choice of floor slab. To say that slabs is our spe- cialty is an understatement.
tribution cen- ter requires a myriad of de- sign profes- sionals and contractors. From site de- sign, through architectur- al, structural
Barton Foreman
and M/E/P, to racking, process and logistics, there are several aspects to keep in mind. A successful distribution center requires input from all the above.
Engineering Confidence for
Distribution Center Design
717-509-7000 | www.proveng.com
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